Malaysian Woman Claims She Was Violently Assaulted By Tour Operator While On Work Trip In Tokyo
Noornabilla Azemi alleges she was beaten, threatened, and robbed by a well-known Malaysian tour guide, who was allegedly upset that she was operating in an area he claimed to "monopolise".
Cover image via Samadi Ahmad/Harian Metro
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A local woman has alleged that she was violently assaulted and received death threats from a fellow Malaysian tour operator during a trip to Tokyo earlier this year
Noornabilla Azemi, 36, made the claims during a press conference in Cyberjaya today, 15 July, nearly six months after the alleged incident reportedly took place on 24 January 2025, according to Berita Harian.
She claimed that no action has been taken against the man, a well-known Malaysian author of travel books about Japan, despite police reports lodged in both Japan and Malaysia.
She said she had travelled to Japan to manage a tour group on behalf of a local travel agency when the alleged attack happened at a rented home belonging to a friend.
According to her, the man — whom she had previously worked with — became aggressive over what he perceived as her "encroaching" on his territory in Tokyo.
"I was beaten, had my head slammed into a metal bedframe, my hair pulled, and my body stomped on with boots," she alleged, adding that the man also threatened to "kill her" and that the assault was recorded by the man's friend using a phone.
Noornabilla said her husband, Mohamad Zhaza Mohamad, 34, and a Malaysian friend living in Tokyo were also physically assaulted during the altercation.
Noornabilla and Mohamad Zahza showing pictures of the injuries they sustained after allegedly being beaten in Tokyo in January.
Image via Samadi Ahmad/Berita HarianImage viaThe man allegedly stole 75,000 yen (RM2,200) in cash from Noornabilla and her husband and ordered them to return to Malaysia
The suspect is believed to be well-known in Malaysian travel circles, often publishing guidebooks about Japan and sharing travel content on social media.
After the incident, Noornabilla said she lodged a police report in Japan, contacted the Malaysian embassy in Tokyo, and later filed another report with the Sepang district police upon returning to the country.
She also sought medical treatment at Hospital Cyberjaya.
In April, she returned to Japan to follow up on the case and was informed that while investigations were still underway, further action required cooperation from the Malaysian embassy.
"I'm still traumatised. I can't sleep unless I take medication. I want justice and for this man to be held accountable so this doesn't happen to anyone else," she said.
The press conference was also attended by women's rights advocate Mona Din, who criticised the lack of progress in the case
While she acknowledged the jurisdictional limitations faced by Malaysian police when dealing with overseas cases, she said more could have been done to coordinate with Japanese authorities through official diplomatic channels.
"The suspect is still free. Meanwhile, the victim is living in fear. This is not just a legal issue; it's about safety, dignity, and accountability," she said.
"Since there's been no update from the embassy or local authorities, we will be escalating this case to the Foreign Affairs Ministry for real action," she added.
